Statement from the Mayor on Operation Sherwood arrests

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has issued a statement in response to the arrests of five men made by Greater Manchester Police today (Wednesday 4 June) as part of Operation Sherwood to tackle non-recent child sexual exploitation.

The Mayor said:

"Operation Sherwood, the GMP investigation leading to these arrests, was set up as a direct result of the independent review into grooming and child sexual exploitation we commissioned back in 2017.

"The arrests today would not have happened without the bravery of the women who came forward and we pay tribute to them. 

"They are an example of the progress being made in Greater Manchester to tackle historic abuse, with recent police investigations leading to more than 110 arrests, over 70 years’ worth of convictions against abusers in the region, and further suspects due in court later this month.

"I was clear when commissioning the independent assurance review: time would be no barrier to justice and perpetrators of abuse would face the consequences of their actions, no matter how long it took."

Article Published: 04/06/2025 17:31 PM